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Green Chemistry-Assisted Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles and Fabrication of Microstructurally Engineered Conductive and Endurable M0@PEO Functional Films

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The present research reports the synthesis of poly[ethylene oxide]-based composite films (500 μm) containing metal nanoparticles (NPs) [Ag 0 ( d p ∼ 6 nm), Cu 0 ( d p ∼ 25 nm), and Fe 0 ( d p ∼ 35 nm)] as the mobile phase. The novelty of the study is in the corroboration of a plausible mechanism for the generation of metal NPs through green synthesis using herbal extracts of Camellia sinensis (Tea) and Azadirachta indica (Neem). Density functional theory (DFT) is used to optimize the phytoreductants present in both biosources, wherein the reducing and/or stabilizing functional entities are primarily hydroxyl groups (−OH). The transition energy (band gap, Δ E |LUMO–HOMO| ) is found to be minimum for Epicatechin gallate (1.05 eV, tea) and Sitosterol (0.58 eV, neem), which could act as potent phytoreductants for initiating a redox reaction, followed by subsequent capping through secondary bond formation. Upon increasing the loading of metal NPs from 1 to 7 wt %, the ionic conductivity of a PEO composite increases (0.1 S·cm –1 ) for PAg N (N: neem). With a subsequent increase in loading (10 wt %), the crystalline region within PEO is enhanced (≥83% using DSC), which restricts the ion migration and lowers the charge storage capacity, as studied using dielectric constants and complex relaxation processes (EIS and DRT). Among all of the compositions, PCu N is observed to exhibit negligible performance deterioration (Δtan δ for 18,500 h → 0). However, PAg system(s) are good ion conductors with significant dielectric nature, but they suffer from particle ripening. Hence, metal NPs, which functionalize PEO films, could be effectively synthesized using a green synthesis route and applied as a solid electrolyte for device application.
Source: ACS Omega
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,935
OpenAlex ID: W4413316138
FWCI: 0.212
Cites: 67
Cited by: 1
Related to: 10